Floor for playpens



June 22, 1954 c. J. SCHIEMER FLOOR FOR PLAYPENS Filed Aug. 2, 1951 ATTORNEY Charles I Schiemen Patented June 22, 1954 FLO OR- FOR PLAYPENS Charles J. Schiemer, Lancaster, Pa., assignor to Banner, Inc., Mountville, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application August 2, 1951, Serial No. 239,987

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in nursery furniture such as baby yards or play pens and more particularly to those having hinged bottom or floor sections as distinguished from pens which merely provide an enclosure.

and have no self contained support for the infant.

In devices of the above type it is desirable to firmly support the inner meeting ends of the floor sections to prevent sagging of the floor at this point under the weight of the child. While attempts have been made to provide structures to overcome this objection, nevertheless, they have been uncertain in operation and difficult to manipulate, particularly since when the sections are lowered they cover and conceal the supporting means to a degree that it is not conveniently accessible.

Moreover, the overall height of the sides is usually greater than pens having no floor because the corner posts are projected below the level of the floor to receive casters. This added height makes it awkward to lean over and stretch the arm and hand to pick up the free inner ends of the floor sections in collapsing the pen.

Accordingly, one of the objects of the invention is to provide means for supporting the inner ends of the floor sections which is positive and automatic in its action both as to setting up and retraction, and requires no special manipulation since the mere act of lowering and elevating the fioor sections controls the supporting means.

A further object of the invention is to provide link means for operating the support which may also partake of the nature and function of a lever having a foot engaging portion, which, when depressed, elevates the related floor section without the necessity of reaching into the pen from above the sides to lift the fioor section into parallel relation to the side wall to which it is hinged.

With the above and other objects in view which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

A preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical cross sectional view showing a pen equipped with floor sections and controlled supports in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a detail perspective view of one of the supporting units in the position assumed when its related fioor section is elevated.

Figure 3 is a detail exploded perspective view of the foot pedal that may be associated with the outer exposed end of the link-lever.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The play pen shown in the drawing includes the end panels A and B and side panels C hinged together in conventional manner for collapsing, the corner posts D projecting below the level of the floor sections F and F and provided with casters if desired.

The said floor sections are connected at their outer edges to the bottom rails I of the end panels A and B by hinges 2 for movement from a horizontal position of utility to an elevated position for collapsing and storage. The side edges of the floor sections when lowered may rest on any suitable supports such for example as conventional stirrup clips carried by the bottom rails of the side panels C. However, with respect to the meeting inner edges 3 of the floor sections, the present invention is important.

As will be seen from the drawing, the supporting unit constituting the invention comprises a supporting leg or strut 4 hinged as at 5 to a cleat 6 secured to the bottom face of the floor section. The cleat may be dispensed with if the floor section itself provides sufficient ground for one leaf of the hinge 5.

In any event the leg 4 has medially pivoted thereto as at 1, one end of the link or lever B which is pivotally supported as at 9 in a bracket Hi. This bracket is secured to the bottom rail I of the related end panel as will be readily seen from Figure 2. As shown, the member 8 may be extended outwardly of the pivot 9 to provide a support for a foot pedal or pad ll.

As will be seen from Figure 1, when the floor section F is elevated the leg 4 is collapsed inwardly, and, on the other hand when the floor section such as F is lowered the leg 4 is automatically and firmly moved and held in upright supporting position to support the inner edge of the floor section. In other words, since the supporting unit consisting of hinged leg 4 and memher 8 of either floor section are pivotally connected as described, the movement of the floor section positively controls the leg 4 and definitely assures its moving to and being maintained in rigid supporting position when its related floor section is lowered to the plane of the bottom rails of the end and side panels. a

When the member 8 is extended as shown at 811 and provided with a pedal H, the related floor section may be elevated'by applying foot pressure to swing the section to upright position. One way of mounting the foot pedal l l on the extension 8a is to-provide the underside. of the pedal with a slot [2 to receive the extension and use a washer having one edge overlying the extension and held in place by a screw l3 passing to one side of the extension into -thetpedal as shown. a

From the foregoing, it *willmowbe'seen that the present construction *provides simple and practical means for automatically and firmly supporting the inner ends of thefloor sections when in use, and also to elevate the said floor sections without bending, stretching or straining when it is desired-to collapse the pen for :wompact storage.

It will, of course; be understood that changes may bez'resortedto withinthe scope of the 'appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a "playpen-the combination, including, "pen-panels forming" the sides of the pen andhaving top and bottom rails, floor sections each hinged at one edge to the bottom rail of an oppo'site) panel, said Tloor'sections, in use, lying in va *planebel'owthe'top railsof thepanels, a support hinged to the inner edge portion of each floor section ppposite its "hinged connection with the "relatedbottom"rail andsaid support having its lower end adapted to rest on ahouseholdfioor or the*like,=and*links having their innerends pivotaiiy ccnnectedmedially-to the related supports, a ibra'cket'carried by each bottom railof the panel -towvh-i'cha'fioor section is hinged; a pivot connecting'ea ch linkwith itsrelated"bracketiinwardly of the bottom rail, and a floor operating extension for each link projecting outwardly beyond the related pivot and bracket and also beyond the panel to provide a foot engaging element for actuating the link. to operate the floor section from without the limits of the play pen to avoid the operators eflort in reaching into the pen to raise the floor section'to collapsing position.

2. In a play pen, the combination, including, pen panels forming the sides of the pen and having top and bottom rails, floor sections each hinged at one edge to the bottom rail of an opposite panel, said floor sections, in use, lying in a plane-belowthe top rails of the panels, a supporthinged'to the inner edge portion of each floor section opposite its hinged connection with the related bottom rail and said support having its lower end adapted to rest on a household floor or the like, and links having their inner ends pivotally connected medially to the related supports, a bracket carried by each bottom rail of the panel "to which a floor section is hinged, an extension for each link projecting beyond the related panelyand foot pedals each having a bottom slot 'for receiving the related extension, and a fasteningfor securing each extension in saicl'sioasaid 'pedals when depressed elevating thefioor section and the support being drawn by'the linktoward'the underside of the floor section.

References Cited in'the'file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,297,308 Armfield Mar. 18,1919 1,747,028 Ruka'loer Feb. 11, 1930 2,395,603 -Qt/right Feb. 26, 1946 2,439,138 Landry Nov. 22,1949 2,523,124 Landry Sept. 1931950 

